Session 2: Why?

Video

Training Guide

Gathering Together (20 Minutes)

Intended Outcome of This Session: By the time we end our session together, we will have a clear understanding of the mission of The Go! Project and will see our part in the overall strategy.

Opening Prayer: (The Go! Project Prayer)

As one people, those who belong to your Church, we willing humble ourselves before you and cry out with one voice. God, we need you! Our churches need you. Each of us needs you. Our community needs you. God, come and heal our land. Help those who do know you to live in the fullness of your presence and purpose. Help all those who do not yet know you to experience the love, grace, joy, freedom, and wholeness that can only be found in you. God, come, forgive us our sins, and heal our land. It is in your holy name we pray, Jesus. Amen.

How Has God Been Moving? The application assignment from the Session 1 was to print a map of your neighborhood and attempt to identify your neighbors by name.

Was the exercise easy or difficult for you? [Did you actually do it??]

GO!Project Teaching (20 Minutes)

What is our role in evangelism and the ongoing mission of Jesus in this community?

What makes the Go!Project different from other evangelism programs or events?

First Impressions:

What stood out to you as you watched this video? o

What new insight, challenge,or way of thinking was significant to you?

(Once everyone has had a chance to jot down their first impressions, a few people can share and comment on what they wrote)

Opening Our Hearts (15 Minutes)

The idea of “evangelism” often produces fear – both in Christians and in those who don’t yet know Christ. Working together as a group, make a short list of some of the fears that you’ve experienced, and those you think others may experience.

Some say that evangelism is telling people about Jesus. Other say that evangelism is showing people who Jesus is through our actions.

What is your opinion of these definitions?

Does anything concern you about them?

Have one group member share a story about a past experience with evangelism that was positive. Have another group member share a story about a past experience with evangelism that did not go as intended or hoped.

Opening God’s Word (20 Minutes)

Have different group members read each of the following verses. After each one is read, jot down a few notes regarding what they say about evangelism. 2. How do these verses affirm or challenge your previous understanding of evangelism?

Based on these verses, who is responsible for evangelism?

Based on these verses, who are we supposed to be reaching through evangelism?

Changing Our Thinking (25 Minutes)

The Go! Project Mission Statement: Our mission is for the Church of Gurnee to partner together to make relevant personal contact with every Gurnee household to effectively present the gospel so they can believe. 1. Discuss briefly what each element of this Mission Statement means:

Why is it important for us to “partner together”?

What is “relevant” contact? What might “irrelevant” contact look like?

What makes a contact “personal”? What would “impersonal” contact look like?

Why is it important that we specify “effective” presentation of the Gospel?

The Go! Project Mission Approach: The approach of The Go! Project is for us to live a cycle of PRAY-EAT-LOVE. To PRAY is align ourselves with what God is already doing. To EAT is to develop authentic friendships with people who don’t know God, sharing life in meaningful ways. To LOVE is do whatever we can to meet every level of need that people have, ultimately meeting their greatest need of being in a relationship with Jesus Christ by sharing the Gospel with them.

What would be the likely result if we left “PRAY” out of the approach?

What would be the likely result if we left “EAT” out of the approach?

What would be the likely result if we left “LOVE” out of the approach?

Changing Our Lives (5 Minutes)

Between now and the next time your group meets:

Find out the first and last names of the people living in the closest TEN houses to your house in your neighborhood. There may be houses that are geographically closer, but are not perceived as being a part of your neighborhood. Neighborhood boundaries can be highly subjective, so feel free to define the boundaries in whatever way seems helpful. The idea is that you begin a process of getting to know your “neighbors,” however that might be defined where you live.

Commit The Go! Project Mission Statement to memory: Our mission is for the Church of Gurnee to partner together to make relevant personal contact with every Gurnee household to effectively present the gospel so they can believe.